Ready stowing and presenting for access of such articles as typewriters, sewing machines, or other apparatus



ATUS v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 8. 1938- A. M. COLEMAN ET AL READY STOWING AND PRESENTING FOR ACCESS OF SUCH ARTICLES AS TYPEWRITERS, SEWING MACHINES, OR OTHER APPAR Filed Dec. 13, 1937 QMI \1/ I g @L N &

A. M COLEMAN ET AL 2,136,275

SUCH ARTICLES AS SEWING MACHINES, OR OTHER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1:5, 193? Nov. 8. 1938.

READY STOWING AND PRESENTING FOR ACCESS OF TYPEWRITERS,

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 8, 1938. A. M. com-:rvumv ET At 2,136,275 READY STOWING AND PRESENTING FOR ACCESS OF SUCH ARTICLES AS TYPEWRITERS, SEWING MACHINES, OR OTHER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 13, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 m/Z'as dj af 6 ea 0e-,4 Zea,

Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES READY STOWING AND' PRESENTING FOR ACCESS OF SUCH ARTICLES AS TYPE- WRITERS, SEWING MACHINES, OR OTHER APPARATUS Alfred Montague Coleman,

Charles Claude Bater,

and George Arthur Lee, London, England Application December 13, 1937, Serial No. 179,616 In Great Britain October 17, 1936" 12 Claims This invention relates to means for enabling articles such as typewriters, sewing machines, or other apparatus to be stowed and presented for access.

The invention has for an object the provision of means for the above purpose, which are operable with little effort on the part of the user, whilst occupying small space, whereby it may be embodied in an article of furniture.

Another object of the invention is -to incorporate in such means the important feature of means for preventing its movement from one position to another, whilst the article, e. g. typewriter, itself is in such a position or condition that it might sufier damage through being moved.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for the purpose stated, constructed as a unitary structure, whereby it comprises a complete device easily fittable in an article of furniture, such as a pedestal of an office desk. In a primary application of the invention the means are adapted for mounting a typewriter so as to enable it to be stowed in the space normally occupied in a desk pedestal by, say, two upper drawers, and to be readily moved from that accommodation to one outside the pedestal and at a reasonable height and rigidly supported and equally capable of being returned to its stowed position.

In the accompanying drawings an embodiment of the means according to the present invention is illustrated. The device shown is for use in stowing and presenting for access a typewriter. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is applicable to other articles, machines, instruments or the like, which are required sometimes to be stowed and sometimes to be exposed and raised for access, e. g. gramophone mechanism, sewing machines, or maybe wash basins which form part of ships cabin or like accommodation. Normally the article to be stowed will be rested on a movable platform which for convenience will hereinafter be called the support.

' In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a cross section through a desk compartment forming the housing for a typewriter when stowed showing the device installed.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing the details of the spring adjustment means.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the locking means for retaining the tray in its extended and. raised positions, and a feeler safety device.

Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 3. Figure 5 shows in detail the slideway in which the support is movable.

Figure 6 is an enlarged-fragmentary view showing means for preventing premature view and sliding of the tray during lowering from the raised position.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the device.

In Figure -1 there is shown a compartment ll! of sufficient dimensions to accommodate a typewriter generally indicated in broken lines at H. The machine is carried on a tray l2, which is slidably carried between guides l3 and locked therein by a catch not shown, which is releasable to allow withdrawal of the-tray for cleaning and like purposes. In normal operation of the means the tray is securely locked to the guides I3. The tray and guides form a support for the typewriter, which support is carried between the two inwardly opposed U section channels l4 forming guides, there being interposed between the guides l3 and channels l4 ball races comprising acage IS with balls l6, as shown in Figure 5. By this arrangement the comparatively effortless and smooth inward andoutward movement of the support is obtained. By using balls l6 of sufliciently small diameter excessive movement of the cages I5 is prevented. Stops are provided at each end of the channels M to retain the cages, and the latter are connected to move together by a bar ISA.

To prevent any rise of the platform before its complete withdrawaL'or outward horizontal sliding has been accomplished, there are attached to the inside of the guide l3, i. e. to the typewriter support, downwardly extending legs 18 terminating in rollers l9, which rollers l9 engage the top'flange of a further set of fixed guide rails 20. The guides form part of the framework of the device and are fixed low down to the walls of the compartment and are suitably braced. When the platform l2 has reached the limitof its horizontal travel, the rollers l9 disengage from the guide rails 20, through cut away parts 2| and vertical movement of the support and the structure carrying it can now take place. A' steady upward lift is obtained by the action of a strong torque spring 22 (Figure 2) which acting through a peripherally grooved halfpulley attachment 23 compensates for variation in the torque exerted by the spring 22 throughout the rising and falling movement of the structure, whereby a substantially constant force on the structure throughout the range of movement is obtained. The spring acting through the cable 24 attached peripherally to the half-pulley 23 gives a partial rotation to a robust rocker arm 25 which by reason of a parallel linkage with a further arm 26 prevents any oscillation of the platform about the pivots 21. There are, of course, two lifting arms 25 and two arms 26 one of each of which is located on the respective sides of the tray platform, the arms 25 being connected by a transverse strut 25' to which the cable 24 is connected. The lifting arms 25, 26 are mounted for pivoting on two stout upstanding pillars in the form of triangular plates 28 situated one each side of the compartment in, and rigidly attached to the framework. The parallel links terminate at their forward ends in pivotal connections 21 with a robust star-shaped bracket 29, firmly attached to which are the U-shaped channel members 14.

Referring now to the enlarged details, Figure 2 is an arrangement for adjusting the tension in the lifting spring 22. A worm wheel 32 freely borne on the half-pulley spindle 30 has anchored to it one end of the spring 22. Rotation of the worm 3| in any conventional manually operable manner adjusts the tension between the worm Wheel and the half-pulley attachment. It will be appreciated that by adjustment of the spring articles of varying weights may be carried on the support, whilst it is further possible to vary the force required to cause rising and/or falling of the structure.

Figure 3 shows an arrangement for positively locking the tray l2 in its uppermost position, and the arrangement is such that looking is automatic. A locking bar 33 is carried by a pin and slot arrangement 35 on the housing so as to be slidable thereon. Locking detents 33A at the extremities of the bar 33 engage in apertures 34 in the bracket 29. It will be appreciated that during the final upward movement of the structure the detents 33Aare displaced against the action of a return spring 36, and finally engage the apertures 34. Unlocking is rendered impossible until a feeler arm 37 is enabled to swing freely across a plane. Should the feeler meet with any 0bstructions (such as a protruding typewriter platen carriage) unlocking is prevented. Referring to Figures 3 and 4 it will be seen that the unlocking is effected from the front of the support [2 by means of the handle 38 which is pivoted at one end and free to act within the limit of a slot 39 at the other. Thrust is transmitted through an arm 40 to the bell-crank lever 4| and thence by links 42 and 43, to impart rotation to a spindle 44, which carries the feeler arm 3'! and the unlocking lever 45, which on rotation contacts with the block 45A and carries the looking bar 33 against the springs 36 and releases the catches 38A. The feeler 31 by reason of its excessive movement compared to that of the bell crank lever 4| will effectively prevent premature unlocking of the platform I2 if any obstruction is met during its swinging movement. A return spring 46 is provided in the above arrangement.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged view of the gravity look, (not shown in Figure 1) whereby horizontal inward movement of the platform [2 is prevented until complete vertical downward movement is completed. There is provided on the underside of the U-shaped channel guide I4 a downward extending lug l4 carrying an arm 49 pivoted at 48 and notched at one end to receive the edge of the back angle member of the extended platform [2. When the weighted end of the arm 49 is clear from engagement with the surface of the fixed guide rail 20, the notched end will engage the rear edge of the platform angle and so effectively prevent any horizontal movement except when the tray is in its lowermost position.

Figure 7 is a pictorial view showing to a reduced scale the platform in its extended position and a typewriter indicated in broken lines, ready for use.

The device as a whole and as described, lends itself to being built as a frame or chassis capable of incorporation in furniture as a unit. The

arrangement more especially of the half-pulley and parallel arms is such that the device is sufficiently compact for the requirements of the oflice furniture trade.

What We claim is:-

1. Article transferring and positioning means including a support for the article, a supporting frame, a vertically movable structure carried by said frame and slidably carrying said support for horizontal movement, a pulley rotatably mounted in said supporting frame, a pinion rotatable in said supporting frame, a torsion spring of which one end is secured to said pulley and the other end is secured to said pinion, a worm engaging said pinion, a shaft carrying said worm and rotatable for effecting adjustment of the initial straining of the spring, locking means to prevent vertical movement of said support except in one extreme position of horizontal movement, and locking means to prevent horizontal movement of said support except in or near one extreme position of vertical movement.

2. Article transferring and positioning means including a support, vertically movable means carrying said support, horizontally movable means carrying said support, locking means for restraining the movement of the support, and a feeler element co-operating in release of said looking means and depending on freedom of movement through a defined area for such co-operation.

3. Article transferring and positioning means including a support for the article, the article being movable relative to the support and requiring to be within certain dimensional limits to permit operation of the device; a structure carrying said support whereby it is adapted to be withdrawn from a stowage space and thereafter raised and lowered, locking means to prevent movement of said support, a feeler element cooperating in the release of the locking means and depending on freedom of movement through a definite area for such cooperation, the freedom of movement of the feeler element being interrupted in the projection of part of the article beyond the dimensional limit, and means for preventing release of said locking means except after a completed movement of the feeler element.

4. An article transferring and positioning means for use with articles of which a part is liable to project beyond a dimensional limit, comprising a support for the article, a structure carrying said support whereby it is adapted to be withdrawn from a stowage space and thereafter raised and lowered; locking means to prevent downward vertical movement of said support from its uppermost position, a pivoted feeler element adapted to sweep a plane into which the part might project, means for releasing said locking means, and a connection between said releasing means and said feeler element to cause the latter to pivot on operation of the releasing means, and to complete its movement before release of the locking means.

5. An article transferring and positioning means for use with articles of which a part is liable to project beyond a dimensional limit, comprising a support for the article, a supporting frame, vertically movable means carried by said frame and slidably carrying said support for horizontal movement, balancing means adapted to exert a substantially constant force on the vertically movable means throughout its range of vertical movement, aiding its upward movement and restraining its downward movement, locking means to prevent downward vertical movement of said vertically movable means from its uppermost position, a feeler element cooperating with the looking means to permit release of the latter and requiring a predetermined movement for such cooperation, the said predetermined movement of the f-eeler element being interrupted where the article projects in part beyond the dimensional limit, and means for preventing release of said locking means except after a completed movement of the feeler element.

6. An article transferring and positioning means including a supporting platform, cooperating guide elements for compelling horizontal movement of the platform, a fixed guide bar arranged below the platform, elements depending from the platform and cooperating with the guide bar to prevent relative vertical movement of the platform during a predetermined horizontal travel, means for releasing the elements with respect to the guide bar at a predetermined point in the horizontal travel of the platform to free the platform for vertical movement, members secured to the sides of the platform, levers connected at one end to the members, fixed supports to which the levers are pivoted intermediate their ends, and means for exerting a pull on the ends of the levers remote from the members to counterbalance the weight of the article upon the platform, said means being adjustable.

7. An article transferring and positioning means including a supporting platform, cooperating guide elements for compelling horizontal movement of the platform, a fixed guide bar arranged below the platform, elements depending from the platform and cooperating with the guide bar to prevent relative vertical movement of the platform during a predetermined horizontal travel, means for releasing the elements with respect to the guide bar at a predetermined point in the horizontal travel of the platform to free the platform for vertical movement, members secured to the sides of the platform, levers connected at one end to the members, fixed supports to which the levers are pivoted intermediate their ends, means for exerting a pull on the ends of the levers remote from the members to counterbalance the weight of the article upon the platform, and means carried by the support with which the platform cooperates to engage and interlock with said members when the platform has been moved through a predetermined vertical path.

8. Article transferring and lifting means comprising a support for the article; a supporting frame; a support carrying elevator means connected to the supporting frame and movable in a vertical sense; a lever controlling the movement of said elevator means; guide means permitting horizontal movement of said support relative to the elevator means; a rotary element borne by said frame; a connection between said element and said lever; and resilient means resisting rotation of said element in one direction and arranged to exert through said element, connection and lever a movement equalizing and uniformly counter-balancing the movement exerted by said elevator means, support and article carried thereby on said lever throughout the whole range of vertical movement of said elevator.

9. Article transferring and lifting means comprising a support for the article; a supporting frame; a support carrying elevator means connected to the supporting frame and movable in a vertical sense; a lever controlling the movement of said elevator means; guide means permitting horizontal movement of said support relative to the elevator means; a pulley of varying radius rotatably borne in said frame; a flexible connection between. said lever and said pulley; resilient means resisting rotation of said pulley in one direction, and arranged to exert through said pulley, connection and lever a movement equalizing and uniformly counter-balancing the movement exerted by said elevator means, support and article carried thereby on said lever throughout the whole range of vertical movement of said elevator.

10. Article transferring and lifting means as claimed in claim 8, further comprising means for adjusting the movement exerted by the resilient means through said element connection and lever.

11. Article transferring and lifting means comprising a support for the article; a supporting frame; a support carrying elevator means connected to the supporting frame and movable in a vertical sense; a lever controlling the movement of said elevator means; guide means permitting horizontal movement of said support relative to the elevator means, a rotary element borne by said frame; a connection between said element and said lever; and resilient means resisting rotation of said element in one direction and arranged to exert through said element, connection and lever a movement equalizing and uniformly counter-balancing the movement exerted by said elevator means, support and article carried thereby on said lever throughout the whole range of vertical movement of said elevator; a locking means for preventing vertical movement of said elevator means except in one extreme horizontal position of said support; and further looking means for preventing horizontal movement of said support except in or near one extreme position of vertical movement thereof.

12. Article transferring and lifting means comprising a. support for the article; a supporting frame; a support carrying elevator means connected to the supporting frame and movable in a vertical sense; a lever controlling the movement of said elevator means; guide means permitting horizontal movement of said support relative to the elevator means; a rotary element borne by said frame; a connection between said element and said lever; a torsion spring resisting rotation of said element in one direction and arranged to exert through said element, connection and lever a moment equalizing and uniformly counterbalancing the movement exerted by said elevator means, support and article carried thereby on said lever throughout the whole range of vertical movement of said elevator.

ALFRED MONTAGUE COLEMAN. CHARLES CLAUDE BATER. GEORGE ARTHUR LEE. 

